TRACK MAINTENANCE APPARATUS AND METHOD - In an aspect, a track maintenance vehicle includes a body, a work head, and a controller. The work head performs track maintenance and is coupled to the body. The controller is configured to operate the vehicle in an autonomous mode. In another aspect, an anchor adjustor includes first and second jaws and an actuator. The jaws pivot about a single axis. The actuator causes the jaws to rotate about the axis. In another aspect, an anchor adjustor assembly includes a first pair of jaws, a second pair of jaws and an actuator. The first and second pairs of jaws open and close about a rail in a track. The actuator causes the closed first pair of jaws to translate towards the closed second pair of jaws along a longitudinal direction of the rail.

11-19-2015

20130239840

Manually Operated Arrangement - The present invention embraces a manually operated arrangement (“A”) and a method, adaptable for a transfer along a longitudinal extension of a rail (

09-19-2013

20100101446

RAILWAY ANCHOR APPLICATOR - A railway anchor applicator for applying an anchor to a rail includes a frame configured for movement along a track, an anchor input for sequentially delivering an anchor to a workhead assembly, where the workhead assembly is movably mounted on the frame for movement toward and away from the rail. An anchor receiving arm is configured for movement between a first position receiving an anchor from an anchor input and a second position placing the anchor away from the anchor input. A main pivot arm is configured for movement between a first position generally away from the rail and a second position generally adjacent the rail. A bar clamp arm is operatively linked to the main pivot arm and is configured for movement underneath the rail, then upwards and towards the rail. An operator station is located on the gage side of the rail which the anchor is being applied.

04-29-2010

20110308421

RAIL ANCHOR SPREADER-SQUEEZER - A rail maintenance anchor spreader/squeezer work head includes a work head frame, a pair of sliding brackets laterally reciprocating on the frame, each bracket having an anchor engaging end, and a pair of opposed fluid power cylinders secured to the frame, each cylinder connected to a respective one of the sliding brackets for laterally reciprocating the sliding brackets for any one of anchor squeezing, when both cylinders are extended, and anchor spreading when at least one of the cylinders is retracted.

12-22-2011

104170100

Track rail mounted spike driver

3

20130186296

AUTOMATIC SPIKE FEEDER SYSTEM - An automatic rail spike feeder system for use with a rail maintenance vehicle having a bulk storage bin for containing a supply of spikes, and at least one spike driving mechanism, includes a mechanism constructed and arranged for receiving a supply of spikes from the storage bin and for automatically delivering individual spikes to the at least one spike driving mechanism in a desired orientation without operator contact with the spikes.

07-25-2013

20120240810

AUTOMATIC SPIKE FEEDER SYSTEM - An automatic rail spike feeder system for use with a rail maintenance vehicle having a bulk storage bin for containing a supply of spikes, and at least one spike driving mechanism, includes a mechanism constructed and arranged for receiving a supply of spikes from the storage bin and for automatically delivering individual spikes to the at least one spike driving mechanism in a desired orientation without operator contact of the spikes.

09-27-2012

20120240811

TRAY FOR ORIENTING AND CONVEYING ITEMS - A tray is provided for orienting and conveying items having a longitudinal axis, a tip, an opposite head, and a head-up and a head-down orientation, the tray conveying the items in a direction of travel and including a series of connected, function-oriented static regions configured for orienting the item from a random orientation to a desired tip-down orientation, at least one of the regions being inclined for facilitating movement of the item through the regions, the regions being configured such that proper orientation of the item is achieved without operator contact.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EXTENDING A RAILWAY TRACK - A method for extending a railway track downstream from an existing track end includes transporting a common track panel; positioning the common track panel downstream from the existing track, deploying an off-track moving mechanism and positioning an upstream end of the common panel vertically, in line with the existing track end; releasing the common track panel, removing the off-track moving mechanism; and installing the common track panel by lowering the common track panel until the upstream end of the common track panel is aligned with the existing track end.

AUTOMATIC RAIL FASTENER ORIENTER - A rail fastener orienter is provided for orienting rail fasteners to a desired orientation, the fasteners having a head, an opposite tip and a shank connecting the head to the tip, and being sequentially provided to the orienter in one of a head right, head left, head up and head down orientation. The orienter includes a frame having an upper end and an opposite lower end, and defining a track with an inlet adjacent the upper end, and an outlet adjacent the lower end, the track dimensioned for slidingly and rotatingly accommodating the shank. At least one stage holder is provided for accommodating the fastener in the track as the head is at least partially engaged by at least one bumper for repositioning to a desired one of the orientations, such that the fastener reaches the outlet in the desired orientation after axial rotation.

07-10-2014

20150101504

TIE PLUGGING MACHINE AND METHOD - A railroad tie maintenance vehicle is configured to seal spike holes in a railroad tie formed by the removal of railroad spikes. The vehicle includes a chassis with an integrated operator work station. The vehicle may move along railroad tracks with a plurality of wheels that support the chassis and that are configured to engage at least one railroad track. A motive power source, supported on the chassis, may be controlled by an operator within the operator work station to propel the vehicle along the railroad tracks. At least one storage vessel on the chassis contains a chemical solution used to fill the spike holes. At least two injection devices on the chassis are remotely controlled by the single operator, possibly by the operation of a single controller such as a joystick, to move into alignment with respective spike holes and to fill the spike holes with the chemical solution.

RAIL TRAIN - A rail train for supporting multiple sticks of ribbon rail comprises a plurality of rail support cars having a single, centrally positioned rail support stand wherein adjacent rail support cars are supported on shared trucks. End cars include a tunnel for supporting the rails near their ends and one or more rail support arms pivotal at a first end about two axis and supporting a rail guide assembly at a second end for supporting a rail as it is pulled of the rail train. A rail tie-down car utilizes spring-loaded, hydraulically actuated clamp assemblies to clamp individual rails to the tie-down car. Each clamp assembly incorporates at least two clamp members which act opposite one another to prevent the rail secured in place by the clamps from sliding in either longitudinal direction.

02-24-2011

20110113980

Device, Method, and Apparatus for Lifting a Railway Rail - A railway-rail-lifting device for lifting a railway rail comprises an arm and a roller rotatably mounted to the arm. The arm is operable to be rotated to bring the roller to bear on the rail such that the roller exerts a lifting force thereon. Securing means are operable to releasably secure the device to a rail fastening assembly.

05-19-2011

20120199038

SYSTEM FOR GUIDING RAILS ON A RAIL TRAIN - A system for guiding rails onto a rail train having rail cars with a plurality of vertically spaced rail support shelves includes upwardly opening guide channels extending from funnel members position at the end of the rail car to each shelf in alignment with the outermost rail receiving pockets of each shelf. A guide shoe with a horizontal roller recessed therein and projecting below the bottom of the shoe is mounted on the end of a rail threaded across the shelves and guide channels of the rail support car. An alternative guide shoe further includes vertically extending rollers projecting from the sides of the guide shoe.

08-09-2012

20120199037

RAIL ANCHOR SPREADER AND COMBINATION SPIKE PULLER - An anchor spreader apparatus and method for moving rail anchors, the anchor spreader apparatus has a mounting member, a rail clamp assembly and an anchor-engaging assembly. With the rail clamp assembly properly clamped to the rail, the anchor spreader apparatus is maintained in a proper and controlled position relative to the anchor as the anchor-engaging assembly is rotatably moved relative to the rail clamp assembly. The anchor spreader apparatus may be paired with a spike-pulling apparatus, whereby the anchor spreader apparatus and the spike-pulling apparatus simultaneously move the rail anchor and pull respective spikes.

ADZER MACHINE HAVING FAILSAFE HEAD ASSEMBLY - A head assembly is provided for use with adzer machine. The head assembly may have a lift frame, and a cutting head rotationally connected to the lift frame. The head assembly may also have a skid, and a single-acting hydraulic cylinder connecting the skid to the lift frame. The head assembly may further have a spring connecting the skid to the lift frame.

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR LOWERING A TRACK - For the controlled lowering of a track, a longitudinal inclination of the track is determined at a rear tracing point of a measuring system and stored. For a length reaching back at least 10 meters, a current vertical profile is formed, and a rear compensation straight line is calculated which is superimposed upon the vertical profile and renders a target track position. The rear tracing point is guided by calculation along the rear compensation straight line, so that a compensation value for the position of the measuring chord ensues at a middle tracing point positioned between the rear tracing point and a front tracing point.

01-28-2010

20140216295

RAIL LOADING AND UNLOADING MACHINE - A rail loading and unloading machine includes a plurality of cars for pick-up, processing, and loading of ribbon rail segments on a rail transport train. A pick-up car provides a rail lifting and manipulating apparatus for pick-up of rail from alongside the machine. A guide box aids guiding of the rail toward a primary drive unit. A crossover car includes components to steer the rail to a right or left side of the machine for processing and loading. A processing car includes a cutting station, drill station, crane, and secondary drive unit. The drill station is retractably stowed below a walkway to provide workspace for an operator to install joining plates on segments of rail. The secondary drive unit is disposed opposite the cutting and drill stations from the primary drive unit such that separate sections of rail on opposite sides of a cut or joint can be driven independently.

08-07-2014

20150053108

AUTOMATIC FEEDBACK SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RAILWAY NIPPER MACHINES - A railway nipper machine is provided that includes a nipper frame having a pair of nipper hooks for performing a nipping operation, and a position feedback device having a central control module configured for controlling the nipping operation based on a depth signal and a time signal. Further included in the nipper machine is a depth sensor connected to the position feedback device for generating the depth signal relative to a nipper actuator connected to the nipper frame, wherein the depth sensor transmits the depth signal to the position feedback device. A timer is provided for generating the time signal, and the nipper machine is actuated by the nipper actuator in response to a determination value generated by the position feedback device based on the depth signal and the time signal.

02-26-2015

20110146526

System and method for railroad track tie plate collection from a rail bed - A machine for collecting tie plates strewn along a rail bed includes a frame adapted for travel along a railroad in a forward direction. A pickup drum having magnetic properties is rotatably supported by the frame and extends over a bed portion of the railroad. A top drum is mounted at a location that is higher and forward of the pickup drum and rotates parallel to the pickup drum. An endless conveyor circulates around the pickup and top drums, and a separation drum is disposed between the pickup drum and the top drum along an ascending portion of the endless conveyor. The separation drum includes a magnetized rim that can lift ferrous objects but not tie plates from the endless conveyor.

06-23-2011

20100224096

Railroad Tie Plate Apparatus and Method - First and second conveyors are positioned along opposite sides of a frame positioned about centrally between the first and second conveyors, wherein the first and second conveyors are operably connected to a railroad engagement wheel positioned under the frame to coordinate movement of the first and second conveyors relative to the railroad engagement wheel. The conveyors can be integrated with a hi-rail truck adapted for use with the first and second conveyors and which contains an infeed conveyor for transporting tie plates from the hi-rail truck to the first and second conveyors.

RAILYWAY SLEEPERS - A dimensionally stable combination of wood and inorganic material is provided as railway sleepers or ties. The wood is preferably a softwood impregnated with an alkali-metal or alkaline earth-metal silicate solution, which has been rendered water insoluble after impregnation. Preferably sodium silicate (water glass) is used as the solution. Any cracks, gaps, shakes, splits, or the like, remaining after impregnation are filled so as to deny entry of water, ice, snow, and debris into such cracks, etc. Predrilled holes in the ties receive deeply threaded railway spikes, capped by a hexagonal cap to hold the rails. Preferably, the spikes and caps are coated with a similar solution to provide both corrosion protection and strong bonding of the components.

09-18-2014

20140216296

RAIL GUIDE APPARATUS FOR A RAIL LOADING AND UNLOADING MACHINE - A guide box for a rail loading and unloading machine. The guide box guides a rail from a ground location toward a drive unit and can be provided with actuators to enable steering of the rail. The guide box includes a base roller that underlies a rail path through the guide box. An arm extends upwardly along each side of the rail path and carries a guide roller. The arms are pivotable toward one another to abut the guide rollers over the rail path and thereby capture the rail between the guide rollers and the base roller or away from one another to enable insertion of a rail therebetween. The guide rollers are vertically pivotable to enable obstructions on the rail to pass through the guide box.

08-07-2014

20120222579

BALLAST DELIVERY AND COMPUTATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method for delivering ballast to a section of railroad track includes measuring an existing ballast profile of a section of railroad track using a remote sensing system, and providing a signal indicative thereof to a first computer. Using the first computer, the existing ballast profile is compared with an ideal ballast profile to compute a track file representing a volume of additional ballast needed as a function of linear position along the section of railroad track, and data representing the track file is transmitted to a second computer of an automatic ballast dump train. Ballast is dumped along the section of railroad track according to the track file under control of the second computer.

09-06-2012

20130125775

ANCHOR CRIBBER - An anchor cribbing machine includes a pair of ballast cribbing assemblies and a pair of rail clamp assemblies. The ballast cribbing assemblies are hydraulically-driven to push ballast away from the opposing sides of a railroad tie so that an anchor may be applied to the rail at the tie location. The ballast cribbing assemblies include support beams that are movable longitudinally relative to the rails and rotatable between an operative and a stowed position. The rail clamp assemblies are configured to engage the rail to prevent the machine from being driven off the rails in operation.

05-23-2013

20130247794

Tie Plate Separator and Method Thereof - Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided.

09-26-2013

20130247793

Tie Plate Separator and Method Thereof - Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided.

09-26-2013

20130247792

Tie Plate Separator and Method Thereof - Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided.

09-26-2013

20130247791

Tie Plate Separator and Method Thereof - Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided.

09-26-2013

20150020707

ONSITE STEEL RAIL LASER PROCESSING VEHICLE - The invention discloses an on-line laser processing vehicle for a rail, including a chassis, a vehicle body, a steer-control chamber and a container; the steer-control chamber includes a console, a CCD monitoring system and a drive-switching operating system; a dual driving system and switching mechanism, which with a process-operation driving system, a conventional operation driving system and a switching mechanism, is disposed in the container; the process-operation driving system operates to provide driving power for the laser processing vehicle during laser processing, and precisely controls moving speed and distance of the laser processing vehicle; the switching mechanism operates to implement switching between the conventional operation driving system and the process-operation driving system. The invention ensures accurate processing trajectories of the laser processing vehicle during laser processing; facilitates on-line laser processing of a variety of rails, such as the rails of main line, curved rails, guard rails, switch rails and so on, so that wear resistance of the processed rail is greatly improved, and meets requirements of high-speed and heavy haul trains for wear resistance of the rail.

METHOD FOR COVERING A BALLAST BED WITH FOAM IN A RAILWAY TRACK SYSTEM - A method is provided for foaming a ballast bed of a railway track wherein the railway track comprises sleepers positioned on the ballast bed and rails positioned on the sleepers, wherein the rails are covered at least in a partial area along a region of the ballast bed to be foamed, and a foaming agent is introduced into the ballast bed whilst the rails are covered, wherein the ballast bed has in a sleeper bay defined by two successive sleepers an upper side facing against the gravitational direction, and the ballast bed is heaped up so that the upper side of the ballast bed reaches at least up to an underneath side of the sleeper facing in the gravitational direction.

10-15-2015

20140013991

Track maintenance apparatus and method - In an aspect, a track maintenance vehicle includes a body, a work head, and a controller. The work head performs track maintenance and is coupled to the body. The controller is configured to operate the vehicle in an autonomous mode. In another aspect, an anchor adjustor includes first and second jaws and an actuator. The jaws pivot about a single axis. The actuator causes the jaws to rotate about the axis. In another aspect, an anchor adjustor assembly includes a first pair of jaws, a second pair of jaws and an actuator. The first and second pairs of jaws open and close about a rail in a track. The actuator causes the closed first pair of jaws to translate towards the closed second pair of jaws along a longitudinal direction of the rail.

RAIL STABILIZER FOR RAIL TIE REPLACEMENT - A stabilizer is disclosed for use in stabilizing and maintaining the spacing between a pair of railway rails during rail tie replacement. The stabilizer comprises a rod having a length and a pair of ends. A pair of rail clamps is carried by the rod, and each clamp is configured to engage one of the rails and secure the rail relative to the rod. An expanding member is carried by the rod and configured to selectively expand along the length of the rod between its ends to engage a structure proximal to the rails, wherein, upon engagement of the rails by the rail clamps and the expanding member with the structure, the rails are maintained in substantially fixed relationship to each other and to the structure, but are free to be moved vertically relative to the structure.

04-10-2014

20110271866

Rail Guide and Solid Tag Line - A rail guiding tool used for aligning rails for railroad construction. The present invention provides railroad constructions workers with a tool that distances themselves from the suspended rails. The railroad construction workers use the present invention to align each rail together by means of a guide plate and an elongated handle. The guide plate is able to engage the head of rails, while the construction worker maneuvers the rail with the handle.

RAIL VISION SYSTEM - A vision inspection system and method for use with a railcar includes a vision device adapted to provide an image of each rail component. An image recognition component analyzes the images taken by the vision device to determine the type and condition of each rail component as the vehicle is traveling on the railroad track. A control system communicates with the vision device and the image recognition component. The control system causes workheads of the vehicle to engage respective rail components based on the input received from the vision inspection system. A method for determining the relative distance between the rail components includes comparing the position of the respective rail components of a first image to the position of the respective rail components of a second image to determine the distance between the respective components and distance the railcar has moved.

08-02-2012

20150144020

PULLING MACHINE FOR UNLOADING AND LAYING RAILWAY TRACKS - The invention relates to a pulling machine for unloading and laying railway tracks, which moves by means of caterpillar tracks running next to the sleepers arranged on the setting bed, with the rail on the provisional supports arranged on the sleepers. The machine comprises a cabin and two caterpillar tracks and includes, in its rear tractor part, a pulling slide that comprises a tube with fastening elements, said tube sliding horizontally, actuated by a hydraulic cylinder comprising a piston connected to the tube, via three dismountable metal supports provided with teflon elements for facilitating the sliding, said metal supports being connected to steel elements acted upon by articulated arms generating the vertical movement by means of the action of another hydraulic cylinder, always maintaining the pulling direction. The machine pulls the rails without needing an auxiliary track, maintaining the position of the track-laying train.

05-28-2015

20090133598

Sensor and Apparatus for Positioning Railroad Tie Plates along a Railroad Track - An apparatus for positioning railroad tie plates along a railroad track comprises a carrier vehicle having a carrier conveyor, a roller conveyor formed of frame members and a plurality of idler rollers, the roller conveyor having an upper input end and a lower output end for gravity feeding the plurality of tie plates, the roller conveyor adapted to receive a plurality of tie plates at the input end and feed the tie plates toward the output end, the roller conveyor connected to the carrier vehicle and in feeding communication with the carrier conveyor adjacent an input end of the roller conveyor, the roller conveyor further comprising a rolling support adjacent the output end for movable support of the roller conveyor along the railroad track, an actuator positioned at the output end of roller conveyor, the actuator successively engaging each of the plurality of tie plates during feeding, a sensor adapted to detect an in-service railroad tie plate wherein the sensor signals a controller and the controller actuates the actuator to eject the plurality of tie plates from the roller conveyor in a preselected spaced apart manner.

05-28-2009

20090145324

Movable crawler system for railroad equipment - A movable crawler system that moves a crawler of railroad equipment from a first position to a second position is disclosed. The crawler system includes a crawler and a positioning system that moves the crawler. The positioning system includes a horizontal positioner and may include a vertical positioner, which move the crawler horizontally and vertically, respectively. The crawler system may be used in railroad equipment for rail change-out processes. When used in this manner, the crawler system enables the crawler to be moved between a position on a guard timber and a position on or above the railroad ties. Because the crawler can be moved to a position on the guard timber, when the equipment is operated on a track suspended by a bridge, which has one rail missing, the need for workers to work outside the rails to raise the equipment above the guard timber is eliminated.

06-11-2009

20090095188

Rail Threading Mechanism - A rail threading mechanism for a rail handling vehicle includes a thread box mounted on the outer end of a manipulating arm. The thread box includes a platform and a pair of jaws pivotally connected to the platform and moveable between open and closed positions. The platform includes a support roller for rollingly engaging the flat bottom of a rail. Each jaw include a plurality of jaw rollers positioned for rollingly engaging a rail positioned on the support roller when the respective jaw is in the closed position. The jaw rollers on each jaw preferably include a pair of base rollers positioned for engaging an edge of the base of the rail, a pair of flange top rollers positioned for engaging a top surface of the top flange of the rail, and a flange side roller positioned for engaging an edge surface of the top flange of the rail.